The birth of a child is one of the most joyous events in a woman’s life. This joy, however, can be slightly tempered by the effects that pregnancy and nursing can have on a woman’s body. A physique that was once slender may now exhibit some loose skin and a lack of tone. For these women, board certified Portland plastic surgeon Dr. Elisa Burgess, offers a suite of mommy makeover procedures, designed with mothers in mind.
The most frequent area that women have issues with after giving birth is, of course, the stomach. After the pressure of carrying a child, the skin on the midsection has become stretched and often does not return to its normal position and tautness. This is particularly visible after having multiple children, or twins. In this case, Dr. Burgess can perform a tummy tuck. This procedure is designed to remove the excess skin that may hang loosely from the stomach and to fix the abdominal muscles. By removing the excess tissue, Dr. Burgess is able to pull the remaining skin taut, creating a tummy that appears smoother and more toned.
Another problem some women encounter post-baby, is stubborn pockets of fat that may have developed during pregnancy. Oftentimes, these fatty deposits do not respond to diet and exercise and requires assistance with removal. They can show up on the midsection, thighs, and flanks most often for women who have given birth. To reduce these areas of fat, Dr. Burgess uses traditional liposuction and ultrasonic VASER Liposuction. In these procedures, fat is carefully removed from the problem site using a thin tube called a cannula. The result is a slenderer appearance with greatly diminished bulges and pockets of fat. Liposuction can be performed all over the body, from the midsection and thighs to the breasts and upper arms. Another option for these areas is CoolSculpting®. This is a non-invasive technique for fat reduction, with little to no downtime.
The other area of the body women struggle with after pregnancy is the breasts. In many cases, due to breastfeeding, a woman’s breasts will begin to droop over time and after having a baby. In this case, a breast lift is commonly performed. In this procedure, loose skin is removed, and the remaining tissues are lifted to create breasts that are more youthful. In some cases, breast augmentation may also be incorporated into this procedure. This helps women who have also lost breast volume to reclaim it.
These mommy makeover procedures are often performed several months after giving birth and after you have stopped breast feeding. If you plan on becoming pregnant in the future, it may be best to delay these procedures until after that pregnancy. This will ensure that the slimming and toning effect of your mommy makeover is maintained.
